Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-02-25
18th COngress---SecOnd Session,
WASHINGTON, Feb. a, 1888

WASHINGTON, req. n, 1857.
SENATE-A very large number of petitions
from the Grand Army posts praying for the
passage of the dependent pension bill over
the Presidents veto were presented and laid
on the table.
The House substitute for the fishing retail
alton bill was disagreed to and conference
asked. Messrs. Edmunds, Frye and Morgan
were appointed on the part of the Sem
ate.
Mr. VanWyck offered resolution declar-
ing it to be the Judgment of the Senate that
an amendment TO the constitution should be
submitted to the people for the election of
senators directly by the voters He asked
that the resolution be laid over until to-mor-
row, when he will make some remarks.
The House bill was then taken up provid-
ing for the adjustment of land grants made
by Congress to aid the construction of rail-
roads in Kansas and for the forfeiture of I'M
earned lands. Several amendments recon-
mended by the public lands committee were
agreed to. -~
A substitute for the third section of the
bill was offered providing that all lands
claimed under railroad grants which have
not been certified or patented and which shall
not be found to belong to the railroad COM
pany shall be restored to the public domain,
and that all lands enormously certified or pat
ented for the benefit of any railroad compa-
ny and by such company sold to aliens shall
revert to the United States.
The bill and amendments were ordered
printed and pending further action went
over.
Mr. Edmunds offered re solution declaring
that Senator Ingalls, is chosen chairman pro
tenn. of the Senate to take place at one
O'Clock on the 2eth of February, when Mr..
Sherman's resignation takes effect. Laid
over.
Fourteen pension bills were passed. The
Senate bill authorizing a bridge across the
East river at Blackwell's Island was passed.
Consideration of the pleuro pneumonia bill
was then resumed.
Pending discussion the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE-Messages from the President were
presented returning without approval the
bills granting pension to Anthony Nc
Robertson; increasing the pensions of Mar
garet R. Jones and Losin Barrett and for the
relief OF William b. Morehous; referred.
Messrs. Randall, Forney and Ryan were
appointed conferees on the sundry civil ap
preparation bill.
The Senate amendments to the militar y
academy appropriation bill were concurred
in.
The report of the committee on elections
upon the Indiana contested case was called
up and the resolution reported was adopt
ed with division. It confirms the right of
Steele to the seat.
The Senate amendments to the district ap-
propriation bill were coneurred in.
The report eff the committee of the whole
on the Senate amendments to the
postofice appropriation bill was called
up. The first three amendments were con-
Cured in The fourth amendment appro-
priating $500, 900 to contract for carrying
Of foreign mails on American vessels to Cen
trail and South America, was non-concurred
in and conference was ordered.
On motion of Mr.. Matson the dependent
,,opoiou hill with the veto of the Praai6ant
was called up.
Mr.. Conger thought that the report of the
committee was a complete answer to the
Presidents hyperbolic criticism on the
measure.
Mr.. Warner said the country should blush
to see one of the least of it's defenders the in
mate of a county poorhouse. This bill would
take many of them out of the poorhouses.
Mr.. O'Hara in favoring the bill said the
colored men did not go to the war, as the
President said they had, for dollars and
cents. When the Fifty fourth and Fifty
fifth Massachusetts,, composed extensively
of colored men, went out they were offered
less than other regiments because they were
black. They spurne6 money and said: mo,
we are in the cause of liberty. If you can
not pay what you pay other troops, we
will fight for our flag and country without
compensation"
Mr.. Haynes and Mr.. Bayne, of Pennsyl-
vania, followed, speaking in favor of the
bill
Mr.. Gresvenor, of Ohio, regretted that
the President had selected Mr.. Bragg, of
Wisconsin, to represent him because
he had for the first time in the
history of Congress denied mem bers the
courtesy of being heard through the Record.
1t might be that the President wished in this
way to suppress full discussion OF TINS vital
question. He believed that the President
would regret such a course within the next
year.
Mr. Burchard said the sophistries of the
Presidents message completely answer
ed by the committees report.
Mr. Morrill, of Kansas, appealed to the
House in the name of justice, gratitude and
humanity to pass the bill.
Mr. Bragg of Wisconsin, said members of
the House had been impelled by sympa-
thetie impulse regardless OF reason or judg-
ment to the point of passing one of the most
scandalous bills which had ever been sent to
a President for his signature. The people of
the country had reason to be thankful that
this bill had been presented to
an executive who had enough back
In a few years the soldiers, not the bum
mels, would have arrived at an age when
they could come to Congress and demand as
right, not ask as charity, that provision
be made for them. Congress should not
bankrupt the treasury before that time ar
rives by Welding to the demands of desert
ers, coffee coolers and bounty jumpers. It had
| been charged that he was not friend of the
| soldier No one who had served with his
| troops for four years, who had followed the
starry flag in fifty pitched battles, would for
get them. 1t was that class OF soldiers he
| defended to-day by protesting against the
| impura a, ion cast upon them by the passage
IF panper pension bill. No man who had
enjoyed the exquisite delight of riding down
q wavering line of men breaking in the pres